Methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve

Abstract

Methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve, the anchor having a braid, and expanding the braid to a deployed configuration against the patient's tissue. The braid may be fabricated from a single strand of wire and/or may comprise at least one the feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for replacing a native aortic valve comprising:
 endovascularly delivering completely out of a delivery catheter a replacement valve and an anchor comprising an expandable braid to an anchor site within the native aortic valve; and then 
 actively foreshortening the anchor to radially expand the anchor to an expanded shape to secure the anchor at the anchor site, wherein the foreshortening step comprises applying a distally directed force on a deployment system interface at a proximal end of the anchor. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the foreshortening step further comprises applying a distally directed force on the deployment system interface without diametrically constraining the proximal end of the anchor. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein delivering the replacement valve and the anchor completely out of the delivery catheter comprises delivering the anchor to a partially expanded configuration. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein delivering the replacement heart valve and the anchor completely out of the delivery catheter comprises allowing the anchor to self-expand. 
     
     
       5. A method for replacing a native aortic valve comprising: endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an anchor comprising an expandable braid to an anchor site within the native aortic valve; to self expand to a partially expanded configuration and
 actively foreshortening the anchor to radially expand the anchor to an expanded shape to secure the anchor at the anchor site, wherein actively foreshortening comprises applying at least one of a distally directed force on a proximal end of the anchor or a proximally directed force on a distal end of the anchor with delivery system. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein actively foreshortening comprises applying a distally directed force on a proximal end of the anchor and a proximally directed force on a distal end of the anchor. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein endovascularly delivering the replacement valve and the anchor comprises endovascularly delivering the replacement valve and the anchor completely out of a delivery catheter, and wherein the active foreshortening step occurs after the anchor and valve are delivered completely out of the delivery catheter. 
     
     
       8. A method for replacing a native aortic valve comprising:
 endovascularly delivering completely out of a delivery catheter a replacement valve and an anchor comprising an expandable braid to an anchor site within the native aortic valve; and then 
 actively foreshortening the anchor to radially expand the anchor to an expanded shape to secure the anchor at the anchor site, wherein the foreshortening step comprises applying a proximally directed force on a distal end of the anchor. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein applying a proximally directed force on the anchor comprises applying a proximally directed force on the distal end a deployment system interface at of the anchor. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the proximally directed force on the distal end of the anchor is applied with a deployment system. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  wherein actively foreshortening the anchor also comprises applying a distally directed force on the anchor. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein applying the distally directed force on the anchor comprises applying a distally directed force on the proximal end of the anchor. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the distally directed force on the proximal end of the anchor is applied by a deployment system.